---
name: "apm"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["freebsd", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/apm/8"
---

# apm(8)

display power management status

## NAME

**apm** – display power management status

## SYNOPSIS

**apm** \[**-abltzZ**\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **apm** utility reports power management status.

The options are as follows:

- **-a**

  Display the current AC-line status as an integer value. The values 0, 1 and 2 correspond to the “off-line” state, “on-line” state or “backup power” state, respectively.

- **-b**

  Display an integer value reflecting the current battery status. The values 0, 1, 2, 3, correspond to the “high” status, “low” status, “critical” status, “charging” status respectively.

- **-l**

  Display the remaining battery percentage. If your laptop does not support this function, 255 is displayed.

- **-t**

  Display the estimated remaining battery lifetime in seconds. If it is unknown, -1 is displayed.

- **-Z**

  Transition the system into standby mode. This mode uses less power than full power mode, but more than suspend mode.

- **-z**

  Suspend the system.

If no options are specified, **apm** displays information and current status of APM in verbose mode. If multiple display options are given, the values are displayed one per line in the order given here.

## SEE ALSO

[acpi(4)](/acpi/4.md), [apm(4)](/apm/4.md), [acpiconf(8)](/acpiconf/8.md), [zzz(8)](/zzz/8.md)

## HISTORY

The **apm** utility originally controlled the Advanced Power Management (APM) BIOS extension on i386, now it interfaces with ACPI.

## AUTHORS

Tatsumi Hosokawa ⟨*hosokawa@jp.FreeBSD.org*⟩